Faculty researchers scoop 2024 Research Impact and Engagement Awards
The Faculty’s exceptional performance at this year’s awards underscores its leading role in advancing impactful, collaborative research across disciplines
Researchers from the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to societal and cultural transformation at the University of Leeds’ 2024 Research Impact and Engagement Awards.
Presented at a ceremony on Wednesday 20 November, the awards celebrate the extraordinary achievements of University of Leeds researchers in delivering tangible benefits across six key categories: Cultural, Economic, Environmental, Health, Policy, and Societal impact.
Each category featured two winners – one for emerging impact, the other for mature impact – to recognise projects at all stages of their impact journey. The Emerging Impact category highlights promising, early-stage initiatives, while Mature Impact celebrates sustained work that has already made a significant difference.
Research Impact and Engagement Award 2024 winners take to the stage to celebrate their success
The Faculty’s exceptional performance at this year’s awards underscores its leading role in advancing impactful, collaborative research across disciplines.
Emerging Societal Impact
Professor Paul Cooke (School of Languages, Cultures and Societies) won the Emerging Societal Impact award for the project, ‘Changing the Story: Youth Voice, Accountability and Sustainable Development in Conflict-affected Societies’. The Societal Impact award recognises research that has the potential to change lives for the better, and Changing the Story has been doing just that, supporting the building of inclusive civil societies with, and for, young people in twelve countries affected by conflict past and present.
A collaborative project between universities, international non-government organisations (INGOs), artists, grassroots civil society organisations and young people across the world, the project is informing the practice of civil society organisations working with young people in conflict settings to build strong institutions that can support communities to deliver sustained social justice.
Professor Paul Cooke
Professor Cooke said:
“We’re so chuffed to have been chosen for this award. Working with the Changing the Story team over the last seven or so years has been such a privilege. We were particularly pleased to see recognition for the work we are doing with our ongoing partners at the British Council and Hope and Homes for Children. These are great organisations to work with and they have helped to ensure that our work has a lasting legacy amongst the young people we work with. We’re only really scratching the surface of what needs to be done, so we’re looking forward to continuing our work with colleagues over the next few years.”
Professor Cooke’s team includes Dr Katie Hodgkinson (School of Politics and International Studies); Inés Soria-Donlan and Lauren Wray (Horizons Institute); Professor Stuart Taberner (School of Languages, Cultures and Societies); and Dr Lou Harvey (School of Education).
Mature Societal Impact
The project ‘Engaging Audiences to Improve Trust and Confidence in News and Journalism through Trusted Regulation’, led by Professor Julie Firmstone in collaboration with Professor John Steel (Derby University), and supported by Dr Maria Georgoula (both in the School of Media and Communication), scooped the Mature Societal Impact.
Through innovative research, Professors Firmstone and Steel have informed the advancement of journalistic standards and ethics by creating tools to foster meaningful engagement with news audiences. Their collaboration with a press regulator has yielded practical solutions, enhancing public understanding and addressing critical challenges in media trust.
Professor Julie Firmstone
Professor Firmstone said:
“I am delighted to have won the award and to have the impact of my joint research projects with Derby University’s Professor John Steel, ‘Defining Freedom of the Press’ and ‘Engaging the Public in Regulating for Ethical Journalism’, recognised. The award also highlights the importance of professional services staff like my colleague, Dr Maria Georgoula, whose work behind the scenes is key to gathering evidence about the impact of projects like mine, so it’s great that the award brings Maria’s role to light.
“I am also pleased that the award acknowledges the importance of research into journalism and news media, as it is not an area that has been well funded despite its crucial role in society. In the context of declining levels of trust and confidence in news, coupled with the problems of mis/disinformation, our research highlights the importance of including the voices of the wider public in discussions about how to enhance trust in journalism.”
The project’s latest findings can be found in a report based on focus groups exploring audience expectations and evaluations of journalism and its regulation.
Mature Cultural Impact
The ‘Dialect and Heritage Project: Transforming Museums and Communities Through Co-produced Dialect Research and Democratised Access to Archival Resources’, led by Professor Fiona Douglas in the School of English, received the Mature Cultural Impact award, which recognises research that has made a difference to culture, creativity or civil society. This innovative collaboration transforms how museums and communities interact, making dialect research more accessible and impactful for local heritage preservation.
Professor Fiona Douglas
Professor Douglas said:
“I am delighted that the Dialect and Heritage Project has received this award. It is testament to the hard work and commitment of the whole team and our fantastic community partners, and we are grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and University of Leeds alumni for their support. Most of all, it is a tribute to the thousands of people who have shared their words and stories with us. Thank you to each and every one; without you, there is no project.”
Building on this work, Professor Fiona Douglas from the School of English, alongside her school colleagues Kathleen McGrath and Dr Kerri-Ann Butcher and Fiona Rosher at the Dales Countryside Museum (DCM), will lead an internally-funded project to develop accessible, impactful dialect research outputs co-created with public users.
Professor Douglas’ project team includes her University of Leeds colleagues Dr Rosemary Hall, Rae Hughes and Kathleen McGrath (School of English) and Caroline Bolton and Rosie Dyson (Libraries Service) as well as Dr Kerri-Ann Butcher (University of Cambridge); Zoe Willems, Steven Hearn and Leila Prescott (Avoncroft Museum of Historic to Buildings); Fiona Rosher and Poppy Oldham (Dales Countryside Museum); Kate Knowlden and Laura Kloss (The Food Museum); Jennifer Smith and Claire Midgley (Ryedale Folk Museum); Lucy Hockley and Amy Stone (Weald & Download Living Museum); Robbie Beake (Ammba Digital Ltd); Mary Stones; and Tracy Cragg.
Special Mentions
Meanwhile, researchers in the School of Performance and Cultural Industries were commended for two projects: Arts & Abolitionist Futures, led by Professor Aylwyn Walsh (Emerging Cultural Impact), & Fabulous Femininities, led by Dr Jacki Willson (Mature Cultural Impact).
These projects were celebrated for their creativity and dedication to addressing contemporary social issues through cultural research.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shearer West, spoke about the importance of the awards in showcasing impactful research:
“Research impact is often hard-won. It takes time, effort, patience, and commitment. It was a great privilege to recognise and celebrate the work of our research community, who are dedicated to improving lives and making the world a better place.”
Professor Matthew Treherne, Pro-Dean for Research and Innovation, said:
"I am thrilled to see so many talented colleagues recognised at the 2024 Research Impact and Engagement Awards. From advancing ethical journalism and engaging youth voices in conflict-affected regions, to transforming cultural heritage and community engagement, researchers in our Faculty are demonstrating the real difference that their work makes to society. These awards inspire all of us to continue striving for meaningful impact, both within and beyond academia. Congratulations to all our winners and nominees and to the teams that made these achievements possible."
For more details about the 2024 Research Impact and Engagement Awards and the winning projects, visit University Research Impact and Engagement Awards.
